Compression testing machine



jam@ im? P. L PENDLETQN 2,245,080 COMPRSSION TESTING MACHINE Fld Feb 19, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet l June 10, 1941.

' P. L PENDLETON COMPRESSION TESTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1940 TEF 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ,fj/afm l ewdiezozz ATTORN EYS "June 1o, 1941.

P. L. PENDLETON COMPR'EssIoN TESTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19. 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR /j/am Z. fend/92272 BY mi l'aml vfzluuw.

ATTORNEYS `June 10, 1941, P. L. PENDLETQN 2,245,080

COMPRESSION TESTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1940 6 Shets-Sheet 4 I0 ...magma ATTORNEYS June'lo, 194.1 P. L PENDLEToN COHPRESSION TESTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, l940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 f. ve ma,

am 1m,

...c 1MM? ATToRNEY Patented June 10, 1941 COMPRESSION TESTING MACHINE Pyam L. Pendleton, Providence, B. I., assigner to Henry L. Scott Company. Inc.:l Providence,

B. I., a corporation ot Bhode Islan Application February 19, 1940, Serial No. 319,604

7Claims.

This invention relates to compression testing machines and more particularly to an apparatus ior measuring, in pounds per square inch, the pressure required to produce a constant percentage ot compression in specimens oi variable thickness.

A desirable form of compression test establishes before hand a uniform percentage of compression for a group oi specimens of varying tree or preload heights and then measures and indicates the load required to produce this percentage in each instance. Every specimen must be measured for free or preload height and the corresponding deilection or compressed height computed in order to make such a test.

This machine has been developed to handle such percentage compression tests on quantity production of specimens having varying preload height and to save the time usually lost in measuring the preload and compressed height in each test and in computing deflection or percentage compression. It will automatically indicate in each test the load required to produce a constant predetermined percentage oi compression in specimens of varying preload height.

This eilect is produced by an automatic percentage compression control mechanism which begins to function in the machine cycley after the pressure foot has established a uniform degree oi pressure contact with each specimen in the form of alight predetermined preload.

The efficiency of the mechanism is assisted by the provision oi a pressure i'oot counter-balanced ior the required preload and having a degree oi slip motion with respect to the compression motion, said compression motion not occurring until alter the completion oi said slip motion which functions to actuate the automatic percentage compression control mechanism simultaneously with the beginning oi compression and to change the machine speed at this point if desirable. This slip motion of the pressure foot is a great advantage in the testing of soft rubber compounds as it allows time for vibrations due to the impact of the counter-balanced pressure foot with the specimen to disappear so that the automatic percentage measurement of compression may be made from a static preload height.

In carrying out the invention I provide a cylinder having a piston therein and means ior exerting hydraulic pressure in the cylinder for raising and lowering the piston. A pressure foot is mounted on the piston and the vertical movement of the pressure foot is transmitted to the automatic percentage compression control mechanism. The automatic percentage compression control mechanism consists of a pair ot movable members which, when in contact with each other. operate a switch to disconnect the machine from its source oi power. Movement of these members is controlled mby a cam and the relative rate of speed oi the two members during downward movement of the pressure loot is altered when the pressure toot comes in contact with the specimen to be tested or when the preload is established. In other words, with the pressure foot 20 inches above the table, if the spacing of the two members of the percentage compression control mechanism were 2 inches and ii.' no specimen is in the machine, the relative speed o! these two members is such that they would come in contact with each other when the pressure foot traveled 20 inches or reached the table. Ii, however, the mechanism is set for a 25 percent compression test and the specimen being tested is liliv inches thick, the space between the members would be reduced to 1 inch when the preload pressure is established and during the next 2% inch movement oi the pressure foot to produce a 25 percent compression oi the specimen, the-relative movement oi the two members would be changed so that they would come in contact with each other at the end oi this 21/2 inch movement oi the pressure foot and thus operate the switch Fig. 1 is a right hand side elevation oi the ma.

chine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on the side opposi* Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed, sectional view oi a portici of the mechanism on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, sectional view through the plunger housing on which the pressure foot is mounted; Y

Fig. 6 is a detailed view oi the bellows supporting plate;

Fig. 7 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 1 showing the arrangement of the switches:

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, detailed side elevation of the automatic percentage control mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a plan view thereof:

Fig. 10 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view on line lil-i0 oiFlg. 9;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the piping l bar and suitable inclined braces 6. The testing 'mechanism is supported on this frame, th'e mechanism being carried by a bar 1 which extends horizontally above the table and is secured to the vertical bar 5. The bar 1 is also provided with suitable braces 8. A cylinder 9 is supported on the frame above the table in vertical position and a piston is mounted in the cylinder, the piston being provided with a piston rod IB. Fluid, such as oil or glycerine, is delivered to the upper or lower end oi the cylinder from a supply tank. by means of a pump l2 and suitable conduits shown in Fig. 1i of the drawings. A sleeve i5 is supported on the piston rod and this sleeve in turn carries the pressure foot |`3 and other associated parts of the mechanism, The pressure foot is attached toja plunger'V 2| by means of a pivot joint |3 or other convenient swiveling arrangement to .provide a substantially parallel contact between the'pressure foot and a specimen having a slanting top or'irregular shaped top surface. llungerv 2| is mounted in a housing 2|! and this housing is connected to a circular member ||2 arranged at a distance from `,the bottom of the sleeve. The housing and circular member ||2 are secured to the lower end of the sleeve by stud bolts ||3 and nuts III.

A plurality oi' levers I9 are pivoted'in the housing, these levers being pivoted on pins |32 and being provided with rollers ||5 at their inner ends Vwhich are adapted to be engaged by the flanged top II'I of plunger 2|. Intermediate their ends the levers I3 are provided with rollers |3 which engage a plate |33 mounted on the lower end of bellows 23. The upper end of the bellows is connected to a ilange |94 secured to the bottom of the sleeve by bolts |33. A compression gauge I6 is carried by a bracket I1 secured to the sleeve l5 and the bellows and the gauge are connected by a pipe 24, the pipe being preferably connected to ilange |016 as shown. ABellows 23, pipe 24 and gauge I3 are lled with a relatively incompressible liquid.' Upward pressure upon plunger 2|. after flange ||1 contacts with levers I8, is therefore transmitted to the compression gauge through bellows 23 and pipe 2l and can be visually read as fluid pressure on the gauge. After the contact of the flange and the levers further upward pressure is proportional to the reactance o i the specimen under compression and the gauge may therefore be calibrated in terms of specimen reactance.

The gauge may be precalibrated in hydrostatic pounds pressure per square inch even though the bellows employed has an effective cross-sectional area greater than one square inch. This may be accomplished by proportionirlg the effectivearms oi levers I9 accordingto the cross-sectional area of the bellows. Thus if the eiective area of the bellows is 2.24 square inches, the ratio of the lever Y arms to give a reading in hydrostatic pounds pressure per square inch would be 2.2411.

The levers I! may be further provided with extensions IIB to permit small compensating changes in the ratio of lever arms by means of adjusting screws |01. The extensions |06 are firmly held to levers I8 by clamp screws |08 and clamp nuts |03. This provides for minute differences in the spring rates of the bellows and of the Bourdon tube in the pressure gauge and for variations in manufacturing tolerances which would affect accuracy of calibration. Levers I! are normally restrained in a position which maintains plate |03 in light contact with bellows 23 by means of set screws I Ill'. Plate |03 is restrained against a degree of upward thrust which would damage bellows 23 or gauge I6 by an abutment I I on the circular member ||2. f Y

A pair of switches 26 and 8| are arranged in a housing 93 carried by the bracket I1 and a receptacle 92 for a plug connection is also mounted in this housing. By means of the structure de scribed, the sleeve I5, compression gauge I6, housing 93, bellows 23, pressure foot |3 and the parts associated therewith may be detached from the piston rod as a unit for service or repair. The parts are normally maintained in assembled position on the piston rod by set screws 22.

Switch 28 controls mechanism whereby the piston is caused to :nove at a slower rate during the period of compression after the pressure foot comes in contact with the specimen to be tested. For this purpose the plunger 2| is provided with a slip motionY and, as shown in Fig. 4, moves upwardly in housing 20 a limited distance before contacting with the rollers ||5. The switch 26 is actuated through the movement of the plunger by means of a linkA I8 which is connected to the plunger and has its other end connected to Va lever 21 pivoted to the housing as at 33. The end of this lever is provided with a counter-weight 32. A connecting rod 91 connects lever 21 to leverv 93 which is pivoted on the switch housing 93 as at 39, Lever 93 carries an adjustable contact screw IM which actuates switch 2G through switch plunger 35. Actuation of the switch 23 restricts the flow oi liquid to the top of the cylinder in a manner to be described and thereby provides a slow rate of motion of the piston during the succeedipg period of compression. Switch plunger 3B is provided with a coil spring which permits over-travel after contact screw |02 engages it without restricting further motion of plunger 2|.

Aiterthe pressure foot i3 has contacted with the specimen to be tested and plunger 2| has caused actuation of switch 26 as heretofore described, iurther depression of the piston causes further slip motion of the plunger 2| causing a second adjustable contact screw to contact with switch plunger 33 of a second switch 3| which is mounted in housing 33. Switch 3| controls the automatic percentage compression control mechanism in a manner to be described. The engagement of adjustable contact screw |0| and switch plunger 93 occurs simultaneously with the contact of flange ||1 of the plunger with levers I9. Further thrust from plunger 2| caused by the compression of the specimen is thus conveyed to the bellows and the pressure visually indicated on the gauge I8. After contact of the ilange ||1 with the rollers IIS, plunger 2| will have no further upward motion with respect to the housing except that due to absorption of liquid from bellows 23 by the Bourdon tube in gauge I3 as it expands under pressure. This absorption will be very slight and can be neglected for ordinary purposes of percentage compression measure- Ls 1) u I.

ment. In cases where very accurate measure ls desired this deflection can be measured and a correction chart provided to allow for it. For all practical purposes pressure foot may be considered as rigidly supported by sleeve I after the flange ||1 has seated against the rollers ||5.

The provision of the link and lever connection to provide slip motion of the plunger also provides convenient means for causing contact of the pressure foot with the specimen with a predetermined degree of light preload and to commence the process of measurement after said preload condition has been fuliilled. For this purpose the outer end of lever 21 may be provided with a counter-weight 32. The pressure foot may thus be balanced to provide any given degree of preload less than the weight of the pressure foot and plunger.

The automatic percentage compression control mechanism is mounted on the horizontal bar 1 and is best shown in Figs. 8 to 10 of the drawings. As shown a rack 28 is carried by the piston rod and this rack drives a gear 29 mounted on a shaft 30. 'I'he shaft 30 is journalled in suitable bearings carried by the bar 1 and a bracket 3| secured thereto. Gear 29 in turn drives gear ||8 and this gear drives a gear 32 mounted on a cam shaft 33. The shaft 30 is provided with a pinion 34 which meshes with a horizontal rack 35 forming one of the two relatively movable members of the automatic percentage compression control mechanism. The end 36 of this rack is adapted to engage an operating member 31 of a switch 38 mounted on a slide 39. A cable 40 is connected to the lslide 39 and passes over a pulley 4| mounted on the frame. A suitable weight 42 is attached to the end of this cable. Slide 39 also carries a roller 43 adapted to engage a control cam. As shown in Fig. of the drawings the cam shaft 33 is provided with a disc 44 carrying a projecting pin 45 which forms one element of a slip-clutch. The control cam 45 is loosely mounted on shaft 33 and is provided with a similar pin 41 which cooperates with the pin 45 to drive the cam in a clockwise direction upon upward movement of the piston rod. The cam is driven in a counter-clockwise direction on the downward stroke of the machine by means of a cable 48 arranged on a hub 49 of the cam and having a weight 50 at its lower end. On the downward movement of the piston rod. rotation of disc 44 in a counter-clockwise direction moves pin 45 away from pin 41 permitting the Weight 59 to function and drive the cam in a counterclockwise direction. Movement of the cam is controlled by a brake shoe 5| engaging an extension 52 of the hub 49 and in turn controlled by a solenoid 53.

Flow of liquid from the reservoir to the cylinder 9 is controlled by a pedal 54 which may be depressed and held by the operator for the duration of the compression cycle or held by a releasable latch. Pedal 54 is connected to a 'four-,way valve 63 (Fig. 11)'` by rods |29 and cranks I2|, a spring in the valve serving to return the pedal to normal inoperative position after depression.

As shown the pump I2 is connected to the liquid in the reservoir through a pipe 56 having a strainer 51 at its lower end and this pump communicates with a feed pipe 58. I'he pipe 5l may also communicates with this valve and the reservoir. The valve 63 is further provided with pipes 65 and i8 communicating with the top and bottom of cylinder 9. As shown pipe 65 is provided with two branches, one of which serves as a feed pipe and is shown at 61 and the other of which serves as a return pipe and is shown at 68. These two pipes are connected through a common connection 69 to the top of the cylinder and the return pipe 68 is provided with a suitable check valve 1li.

Pipe 66 connects valve 63 to the bottom of the cylinder and has a branch connection 1| leading to the reservoir through a valve 11 kept normally closed by a Weight |24 on the valve lever |23. A shaft 18 is slidably mounted in a bracket |25 mounted on the piston rod I0 and provided with a handle |21. Shaft 18 is rigidly and adjustably positioned in bracket |25 by a clamp screw 19. Shaft 18 is also journaled in a bracket |23 mounted on channel beams 1 and provided with a flanged section which engages with valve lever |23 on the upstroke of the piston to open valve 11 and exhaust the fluid pressure from 66 directly into the reservoir at any height of the pressure foot I3 from the table which may be predetermined by the position of shaft 18 with respect to bracket |25 and clamp screw 19. 'I'he adjustment of position of shaft 18 is to provide a convenient means for limiting the height to which the pressure foot will rise from the table relative to the height of specimens.

'Ihe circuit and circuit controls are Shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings, the reference numerals 14 and 15 designating the main supply and being provided with a suitable switch 16. A fuse cutout box is provided at 81 and a junction box at 99. Line Wires 14 and 15 are connected to motor 86 through a separate motor switchl 89. Switch 26 energlzes a solenoid valve 13 and switch 8| energizes solenoid' brake 53. Energization of valve 13 slows the rate of travel of the piston to a rate predetermined by the setting of by-pass valve 12 and energization of solenoid 53 operates the brake 5| to stop the movement of the cam 46 during that portion of the piston stroke when the specimen is under pressure. Switch 38 is connected to solenoid valve 55 to shut off the lluid supply to cylinder 9 and stop the piston when the end 36 of the rack engages plunger 31 and actuates the switch. The portion of the wiring shown at 90 includes a four conductor flexible cable and plug 9| by means of which the parts associated with slide |5 may be quickly detached from the machine for repairs or service.

In the operation of the device, movement of the piston in an upward direction rotates the gear 29 in a clockwise direction and causes the rack 35 to move toward the left to increase the distance between the end 36 of this rack and the limit switch 39. At the same time, the gear 32 is rotated in a clockwise direction and engagement of pins 45 and 41 causes the cam to be rotated in the same direction to move .the slide 39 toward theleft but at a slower speed than the movement of the rack 35. The movement of the slide will, of course, depend upon the contour of the cam. As variations in the time interval of compression are in direct proportion to variations 'in the height of the specimens being tested for any uniform percentage, cam 46 is generated in the form of a regular spiral with a rate of increase or spiral lead directly proportional to the rate of increase in the compression time interval with an increase in specimen thickness. Cam

ment. When the pressure foot starts downwardly and gears 29 and 32 rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, the rack 35 moves toward the right in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings and as the gear 32 rotates, the pin 45 moves in a counter-clockwise direction and permits the cam to be lowered by the weight 50 but limits the rate of movement of the cam by the speed at which the pin I5 moves. Until the predetermined preload pressure is established, the cam moves in a counterclockwise direction and the weight 42 moves the slide 39 and the limit switch 38 toward the right but at a slower rate of speed than the movement of the rack 35 so that the space between the contact members 36 and 31 is decreased.

Before the completion of the slip motion of plunger 27|, switch 26 is actuated to energize solenoid valve 13 and cause the liquid to ow to the top of the cylinder at a slower rate through by-paSs valve 12. When the predetermined preload pressure is established and the slip motion of plunger 2| completed, the plunger is retracted in housing 2B and-has contacted bellows 23 and simultaneously actuated switch 8l to energize solenoid 53 and operate the brake shoe 6i to engage the brake drum 52. This prevents further movement of the cam 48 so that the slide 89 is held stationary during the continued downward movement of the pressure foot during which the specimen is compressed beyond the preload compression. The rate of closure oi the contacts 38 and 21 is thus increased and when the specimen has been compressed the predetermined percentage, or in other words, the pressure foot has traveled a distance corresponding to the desired predetermined compression without reference to preload compression, the end 36 of rack 35 engages the operating member 31 of switch 38 and through valve 55 fluid pressure is cut oil from cylinder 9 and the movement of the pressure foot is arrested. The gauge I6 registers the specimen reactance throughout the compression of the specimen without reference to preload through the bellows 23 and the closed system 24. The detailed construction of these parts is conventional andffurther description thereof is deemed to be unnecessary,

'I'he delivery of fluid from the reservoir Il to the upper end of the 'cylinder 9 to cause the downward movement of the piston and piston rod I is controlled by the valves 63 and 55, through pedal 54 and its connections. After the completion of the test as above described. the 0;!- erator releases pedal I. allowing the spring in valve 63 to reverse the valve and deliver the fluid to the bottom of cylinder 9 raising the pressure foot clear of the specimen. As stated above, the upward movement may be automatically controlled and limited by the graduated rod 'I8 and at the proper time in the upward movement, after the pressure foot has been moved a slight distance above the specimen, the ange 80 operates valve 11 to by-pass the iiuid and stop the upward movement.

, I claim:

l. Apparatus of the character described comprising a table, a pressure foot mounted over the table, means for moving the pressure foot toward the table and control means therefor. said control means comprising a pair of relatively movable members, a switch operable upon predetermined pressure contact of the pressure foot with the specimen to be tested, a cam controlling the movement of one of said members,

va brake associated with the cam, and means controlled by the switch for actuating the brake.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a cylinder, a source of liquid supply, a

pump, a motor for operating the pump, means for delivering liquid to the ends of the cylinder,

a liquid control valve in said means, a piston in the cylinder, a. piston rod extending from the cylinder. a pressure foot carried thereby, a pair of movable members, means controlled by the movementI of the piston rod for moving said members at diiferent speeds, means for arresting the movement of one of said members, and a limit switch operated by said movable members and connected to the liquid control valve.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a cylinder, a source of liquid supply. a pump. a motor to drive said pump, means-for delivering liquid to the ends of the cylinder, a solenoid operated liquid control valve in said means, a piston in the cylinder, a piston rod associated therewith, a pressure foot carried by the piston rod, a limit switch connected to the liquid control valveI a pair of movable members, a cam actuated by the movement of the piston rod controlling one of said members, and a rack actuated by the movement of the pistonrod for controlling the other of said members, said limit switch being actuated by said movable members.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a movable pressure foot and control means therefor. said control means comprising a pair of relatively movable members, a switch actuated thereby, one of said members comprising a rack controlled by the movement of the pressure foot, a cam controlled by the movement of the pressure foot for permitting movement of f the other of said members, means for moving operatively associated with said members, one of said members comprising a rack controlled by the movement of the pressure foot, a cam controlled by the movement of the pressure foot xfor permitting movement of the other of said movable members, means for moving said other member, a brake for said cam. and a solenoid for actuating the brake.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a table, a pressure foot mounted over the table, means. for moving the pressure foot toward the table and control means therefor. said control means comprising a pair of relatively movable members, a switch operable upon predetermined pressure contact of the pressure foot with the specimen to be tested, a cam controlling the movement of one of said members, means controlled by the switch to arrest the movement of the cam, a switch operable upon initial engagement of the pressure foot with a specimen to be tested, and means controlled by said switch for altering the speed of the pressure foot.

7. Apparatus of the character cfescrlbed comprisinz e cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a piston rod associated therewith, a sleeve mounted on the piston rod, a. housing carried by the sleeve; a pressure toot mounted in the housing, a bracket carried by the sleeve. a pressure gauge mounted on the bracket, a bellows carried by the sleeve,

a. pipe connecting the bellows and the gauze and forming s closed liquid system, and means for transmitting thrust from the pressure foot to the bellows. the sleeve and lts associated parte 5 being removable es s unit from the piston rod.

PYAM L. PENDIEION. 

